NFU urges government to give British farming a more certain future

NFU President Meurig Raymond highlighted three areas government needs to take action on if Brexit is to be successful
NFU President Meurig Raymond highlighted three areas government needs to take action on if Brexit is to be successful

National Farmers Union (NFU) has today (21 February) called the Defra secretary Andrea Leadsom to clarify the government's commitments to post-Brexit farming.

In his opening speech at the NFU 2017 conference, NFU President Meurig Raymond highlighted three areas government needs to take action on if Brexit is to be successful for the country’s food and farming industry.

"British farmers produce the raw ingredients for the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, food and drink, worth £108 billion," Mr Raymond said.

"It provides jobs for 3.9 million people, and has the potential to deliver much more for the country.

"The NFU says the industry now needs certainty and firm commitments from government if the country is to feel the benefits of a thriving food and farming industry."

Food chain 'depends on it'

Mr Raymond will say over the next two years negotiations will take place which will have a 'massive impact' on the British food and farming industry.

"Brexit needs to be successful when we leave the EU. It is a fairly simple recipe, with three main ingredients.

"Firstly unrestricted access to the European market, secondly continued access to a competent and reliable workforce both pre and post farm-gate and thirdly a new agricultural policy which assists in the development of an increasingly productive, progressive and above all profitable farming sector.

"We will need the Government’s support in all of these areas. Starting with keeping important trade routes open to ensure a smooth transition to new trading relationships with Europe post-Brexit with the best possible access to markets all over the world.

'Reliant'

Mr Raymond said farming is reliant on being able to recruit both a permanent and seasonal workforce.

"We have a very serious challenge right now," he said, "the horticulture and poultry sectors – which are reliant on seasonal temporary workers - are already struggling to recruit up to 95,000 needed by 2021.

"We urge the cabinet to work with us to sort this out as a matter of urgency. British food production depends it. In fact, the whole food chain depends on it."